The remains of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz who has passed away late last night has been buried and a new successor Crown Prince Salman has been named the new monarch.
The burial of the late monarch who was worth $20 billion was devoid of fanfare.
He was simply bathed according to Islamic ritual and then wrapped in two pieces of plain white cloth — the standard shroud for all Muslims.
Meanwhile, his successor has a step-brother to the late king as pledged to follow in the footstep of his brother who was hailed by the West as a reformer king.
Salman, 78, vowed to maintain the same policies as his predecessors.
“We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” he said in a speech broadcast on state television.
The new king’s profile was updated on his official Twitter account, where he wrote: “I ask God to help me succeed in my service of the dear [Saudi] people.”
In a statement carried by the Saudi TV in the early hours today, the Saudi Royal Court announced the death of King Abdullah.
It declared Crown Prince Salman bin Abdelaziz as new king of the oil-rich Gulf country and Prince Muqrin bin Abdelaziz as new Crown Prince.
Abdullah was recently admitted to hospital after suffering lung infection.
He was diagnosed with pneumonitis, making it necessary for hospital doctors to provide him with a tube to allow him to breathe.
Abdullah underwent back surgery in November 2012. Ever since, he has refrained from attending events outside the kingdom, including a recent high-profile Gulf summit held in Qatari capital Doha.
Salman, 79, is a half-brother of the deceased king. He was appointed crown prince in June of 2012 after the death of the late crown prince, Naif.
Muqrin is also a half-brother of Abdullah and the youngest son of the founder of Saudi Arabia.
He was serving as second deputy prime minister and the king’s special envoy.